Waxman-Markey

I an probably the only energy writer who has absolutely no interest in the debate over the Waxman-Markey climate change bill,. I concluded that even if I put a labored effort into understanding the bill, its complexity would defeat my efforts. The bill is not a serious attempt to mitigate global warming, if it were, it would be a whole lot simpler. Complexity means lining a lot of pockets.

The Waxman-Markey Bill is undoubtedly an insult to the intelligence and education of intelligent and educated people, who cannot possibly know what the Waxman-Markey Bill is about. It does give Democratic politicians, most of whom are not interested enough in energy issues to informed themselves, cover on AGW issues. As long as Democrats can tell voters that they voted for Waxman-Markey, they don't need to do any serious research or thinking about energy issues. The fact that bill sponsor Waxman, is still carrying on a faux-liberal quarrel with nuclear power is evidence enough that there is nothing serious here. Once Democratic politicians like Waxman stop writing nuclear power off, it might be time to pay attention. There are two other signs that the Waxman-Markey bill is an exceedingly bad piece of legislation. First it is 900 pages long. No one has read it, no one understands it, and in the end the Waxman-Markey is a waste of time, a vacuous political exercise that will accomplish nothing in the effort to mitigate AGW.

The Waxman-Markey bill is so bad that even certifiable environmental crazies like Greenpeace are opposed to it. However, some for some "Progressive greens", say for example Joe Romm and David Roberts, it is impossible to be too crazy on AGW related issues.

We have Joe Romm huffing and puffing in favor of Waxman-Markey, and Joe is nothing if not consistently wrong about AGW mitigation. David Roberts is also in favor of Waxman-Markey. I realized a couple of years ago that David Roberts is a few rocks short of a full load on mitigation issues. What more proof do I need about Waxman-Markey?

Even without reading a paragraph on the controversy, I already know that Waxman-Markey is going to be a perfect storm of stupidity and wasted effort.

We are going to endure at least two more years of confusion, before people start getting serious about mitigation, serious enough that the lies of greedy and corrupt solar and wind interests start being a matter of concern for Democratic members of congress, and people start asking intelligent questions about renewable technology, instead of simply mouthing the word renewables with pseudo-religious reverence.

When public pressure to take decisive action becomes sufficiently powerful, the lobbyist will lose their say, and Congress will start to inform itself. We are not there, and can only expect bad legislation.